THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE 

SUNLIT  HOURS 


POEMS  OF 
EMILE  VERHAEREN 

Selected  and  Rendered 

into  English 
By  ALMA  STRETTELL 


With  a  Portrait  of  the  Author  by 
JOHN  S.  SARGENT 


"Here  are  beauty,  power  and  in- 
tellect, heights  and  depths  and  far 
reaches;  the  mysteries,  adventures, 
tragedies,  joys  and  conquests  of  life 
magnificently  synthetized.  .  .  M. 
Verbaeren  is  a  giant  among  the 
poets." — New  York  Sun. 

Cloth.       i2mo.       $1.00  net 

JOHN    LANE    COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS  NEW  YORK 


THE 

SUNLIT  HOURS 

BY 

EMILE  VERHAEREN 


TRANSLATED  BY 
CHARLES    R.  MURPHY 


^ 


NEW    YORK 

JOHN   LANE   COMPANY^ 

MCMXVI 


Copyright,  igi6, 
By  JOHN  LANE  COMPANY 


Press  of 

J.  J.  Little  &  Ives  Company 

New  York,  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.     "O,  the  Splendour  of  this  Joy 

of  Ours" ii 

II.     "What  Tho'  We  See  It  Break 

Before  Us  Into  Flowers"     .      13 

III.  "This  Carven  Column  Whereon 

Monsters  Cling"    .     .     .     .     15 

IV.  "The   Night,   Unfolding,   Ban- 

ishes  the   Day"      ....     18 
V.     "Remembering    Thy    Gracious 

Gift  to  Me" 20 

VI.     "At  Times  Thou  Art  the  Spa- 
cious Light  and  Air"     .     .     22 

VII.     "Oh,  Let  It  Knock  Upon  Our 

Door" 24 

VIII.     "I  Have  Given  All  My  Heart 

to  Thee" 26 

5 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

IX.     "The    Youthful     Spring    with 

Wondrous  Might"     ...     28 
X.     "Come    Out    Into    the    Garden 

Fair" ,30 

XI.     "How  Swiftly  is  She  Caught  in 

Ecstasy" 32 

XII.     "At  That  Time  When  in  Lone- 
liness I  stood" 34 

XIII.  "Of    What    Avail    the    Hectic 

Reasoning" 36 

XIV.  "Quietly,    Like   Stately  Queens 

of  Old" 38 

XV.     "To  All  Thy  Smiles  and  Tears"  40 
XVI.     "I  Bathe  in  Thy  Two  Eyes  My 

Soul  Entire" 42 

XVII.     "That  Love  Within  Our  Eyes 

May  Be" 44 

XVIII.     "Mid-Summer   Blooms  Within 

Our  Quiet  Garden-Ways"  .     46 

XIX.     "May    Thy    Dear  (  Eyes,    Thy 

Clear  Eyes,  Be"     ....     49 

6 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XX.     "Tell    Me,    Oh   My  Tranquil 

Friend" 51 

XXI.     "In   Those    Hours   When   We 

Seem  Shut  Out"     ....     53 
XXII.     "Oh,  This  Happiness"     ...     55 

XXIII.  "Oh,   Let  Us  Live  Out  Love 

with  All  Our  Powers"     .     .     57 

XXIV.  "No  Sooner  Lip  to  Lip,  Than 

We  Are  Fraught"      ...  59 
XXV.     "That  Nothing  May  Elude  Our 

Close  Embrace"     .     .     .     .  61 

XXVI.     "Although,  the  Autumn  Eves"  63 

XXVII.     "The  Gift  of  Body,  When  the 

Soul  is  Given"       ....     65 

XXVIII.     "Was  There  Ever  in  Us  One 

Caress" 67 

XXIX.     "This   Fair  Garden   Flowering 

to  Flame" 69 

XXX.     "If  It  Ever  Be" 71 


\ 


THE 

SUNLIT  HOURS 


O  the  splendour  of  this  joy  of  ours, 
Woven  of  gold  of  the  sun-lit  hours! 
Here  stands  the  house  in  soft  repose, 
The  garden  and  the  orchard-close. 
Here  is  the  bench  beneath  the  apple  trees 
Where  lazily  the  blanched  spring 
Its  petals  now  doth  fling. 
And  here  the  luminous  birds  one  sees 
Soaring,  like  presages  of  light, 
In  the  clear  heaven  of  their  flight. 
And  here,  as  of  caresses  rained  in  showers 
From  the  lips  of  the  higher  blue, 
Two  lovely  tarns  of  softest  hue, 

II 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Bordered  naively  with  involuntary  flowers. 
O  the  splendour  of  our  joy,  for  we 
Live  doubly,  in  ourselves,  and  day's  high 
ecstasy. 


12 


II 


What  tho'  we  see  it  break  before  us  into 
flowers, 

This  garden  where  we  pass  the  clear  and 
silent  hours? 

In  our  two  hearts  are  spirit-flow'rs  un- 
furled, 

Where  blooms  the  fairest  garden  in  the 
world. 

For  as  flow'rs  we  live  and  breathe 
When  in  laughter  love  breaks  forth, 
And  our  sorrows  sigh  like  trees 
In  the  dark  winds  from  the  North; 

13 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

For  we  live  as  limpid  lakes  at  calm 
That  mirror  roses  heavy  with  their  bairn, 
And  rich  vermilion  lilies  of  the  South, 

Each  like  a  warm  red  mouth; 

For  we  utter  all  delight 

That  leaps  in  feasts  and  in  the  spring 

When  in  vows   our  words  take  flight, 

Soar  exultant  on  the  wing. 

Oh!  what  flowers  are  in  our  hearts  un- 

furl'd 
Within  the  fairest  garden  in  the  world! 


14 


Ill 


This  carven  column  whereon  monsters 
cling 

And  twist  among  themselves  with  raven- 
ing jaws, 

They  seem  to  pant,  and  grip  with  mighty 
claws, 

And  from  each  other  anguirhed  cries  to 
wring — 

This  was  my  soul  before  it  knew  thyself, 
Oh,  thou  the  ever  new,  the  ever  old! 

Who  earnest  forth  to  me  from  deeps  of 
self 

Ardour  between  thy  hands  and  joy  untold. 

15 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

I  breathe  a  scent  of  faint  familiar  flow'rs 

Within  thy  heart  that  sleep; 
And  thirsty  memory  drinks  deep 
Of   kindred   echoes    from   past   years   of 

ours; 
At   the   same   instants   in   our   childhood, 

tears, 
Unknowing,  we  have  wept; 
We  must  have  known  like  gladness  and 

like  fears, 
Like  trysts  with  grief  have  kept; 
Long  since  was  I  bound  to  thee  as  thine 

own 
By  One  who  came,  inscrutable,  unknown, 
Upon  my  life's   adventurous  battle  field. 
Oh !  had  I  searched  His  face,  forgetting 

fear, 

16 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

I  should  have  known  thine  eyes  this  many 

a  year, 
That  there  between  his  eyelids  were  rd 

veal'd! 


17 


IV 


The  night,  unfolding,  banishes  the  day; 

The  moon  seems,  in  its  long  survey, 

To  brood  upon  the  sleeping  silences; 

All  the  air  is  pure  and  clear, 

Pure  and  pale  afar  and  near, 

And  clear  the  waters  in  the  friendly  mead; 

What  agony  is  in  the  slow 

And  steady  drip  of  water  from  a  reed, 

That  sounds  and  then  is  hushed  below! 

But  in  my  hands  thy  hands  I  hold; 
Thy  steadfast  eyes  enfold 
Mine  eyes;  I  see 

Thy  peace  like  purest  water  undefiled 

18 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

By   cloudy   fear,    undimmed  by   hovering 

wraith 
Of  doubt,  and  oh,  I  see 

The  perfect  faith 
That  rests  within  us  like  a  sleeping  child. 


19 


Remembering  thy  gracious  gift  to  me, 

So  simple,  so  profound, 
My  wondering  heart  is  lost  in  prayer  to 
thee. 

How  long  it  seemed  before 

I,  groping,  found 
And  knocked  at  thy  heart's  door; 
And  from  how  far  I  came  at  last  to  thee 
Whose    hands    were    stretched    in    silent 

search  for  me. 
My  heart  was  eaten  by  corroding  rust 
That  preyed  upon  my  strength, 
Defiled  my  trust; 

I  was  weary,  I  was  old  with  long  mistrust, 

20 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

I  sickened  of  the  roadway's  empty  length. 
When  thy  feet  wandered  into  my   life's 

way 
They  brought  a  joy  so  exquisite  to  me 
That,  trembling  and  in  tears,   I  can  but 

stay 
To  worship  silently. 


21 


VI 

At  times  thou  art  the  spacious  light  and 

air 
Of  all  this  tranquil  morning  garden,  where 
Sinuous  paths  wind  in  the  blue  haze 
Like   swans  upon   the   deep   blue   water- 
ways. 
At  other  times  thou  art  the  shivering  wind 

Exultant,   cool, 
Who  passes,  running  fingers  light  and  kind 
Along  the  clear  brow  of  the  pool. 
When  with  thy  two  hands  thou  touchest 

me, 
I  feel  the  brushing  of  cool  leaves 
Against  my  cheek; 

22 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

When  midday  cleaves 
The  dimness,  all  the  shadows  secretly 
Meditate  the  words  that  thou  didst  speak. 
So  all  the  hours  pass  by  some  sweet  grace 

Of  thine,  into  my  heart; 
And  when   at  last  the  wan  night  comes 

apace 
And  rapt  in  sleep  and  still,  apart, 

Thy  spirit  lies, 
Feel   thro'    thy   closed   eyelids   how   mine 

eyes 
Dwell  on  thee  with  a  love  beyond  compare, 
More  humble  and  more  clinging  than  a 
prayer. 


23 


VII 

Oh,  let  it  knock  upon  our  door, 

That  hand  that  taps  with  futile  touch; 

We  have  our  joy,  the  rest — what  can  it 
offer  more? 

The  rest  with  futile,  listless  touch? 

Let  them  pass  our  door, 

The  wearied,  mirthless  joys 

With  their  tinsel  and  their  toys. 

Let  laughter  rise  and  sound  and  disap- 
pear; 

The  crowd  move  on  with  million  voices 
clear. 

The  moment  is  so  fair  with  light 

24 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

In  this  garden  all  about; 

The   moment   is   so   rare   with   new-born 

light 
Deep  within  us  and  without! 
Ah,  'tis  the  part  of  wisdom,  dear; 
No  longer  seek  we  those  who  go 
By  the  long  highway  drear, 
With  heavy  feet  and  singing  low. 
But  stay  we  here,  contented  as  of  old, 
Though   night   itself   strike    out   the    sky 

above, 
Loving  within  us  the  idea  we  hold 
Of  this  most  wondrous,   steadfast  thing, 

our  love. 


25 


VIII 

I  have  given  all  my  heart  to  thee 

As  simply  as  a  child 

Giving  a  dewy  flower,  fresh  and  wild; 

I  pressed  it  to  my  lips  and  gave  it  thee — 

I   broke   the   flower's   stem   with   burning 

hand; 
Speak  not,  for  words  may  hurt;  but  with 

thine  eyes 
Speak  to  my  soul  that  it  may  understand. 

The   flow'r  that   is   my  heart,   my   sacri- 
fice, 
Tells  thee  quite  simply  that  one  must 
Confide  in  virgin  love,   as  children  trust 

26 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

In  God  who   is   so  good  and  great   and 
wise. 

Let  the  bold  spirit  revel  in  the  hills 

In  wilful   dalliance   and   vanity, 

But  let  us  worship  in  simplicity 

The  very  truth  that  holds  our  hearts  and 

wills ; 
Nor  can  love  be  more  fully  said 
Than  when  soul  speaks  to  soul  at  night, 

and  overhead 
The  innumerable  silent  stars  like  eyes 

Burn  each  on  each, 
A  speaking  that  surpasses  speech, 
Amid  the  harkening  silence  of  the  skies. 


27 


IX 


The  youthful  spring  with  wondrous  might 
Bursts  out  in  all  its  clarity 
Upon  our  wistful  words  and  sight, 
And  bathes  them  deep  in  purity. 
The  wind  and  the  slender  lips  of  the  flow- 
ers, 
Trembling,   scatter   abroad  in  showers 
Their  syllables  of  light. 

But  the  soul  of  us  will  not  be  caught 
Within  the  chains  that  language  wrought; 
One  simple  flight  of  spirit  doth  enshrine, 
Better  than  word  or  fitful  thought, 
Our  joy  in  its  abiding  place  divine, — 

28 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

That  heaven  of  thine  wherein  thy  soul 
Kneels  gently  down  to  mine, 
And  that   where  wistfully  my  soul 
Kneels  humbly  there  to  thine. 


29 


X 


Come  out  into  the  garden  fair 
Where  now  the  brooding  eve 

Has  closed   the  flowers  with  its  tranquil 
light, 

And  in  thy  soul  let  sink  the  peaceful  night; 

For  no  longer  may  its  gloom  achieve 
To  trouble  our  deep  prayer. 

Above,  the  crystal  stars  are  shining  forth 
With  light  translucent  and  more  pure 
Than  ever    came    from    out    the    frozen 

North ; 
Beyond  them   all,   the  peaceful  skies   en- 
dure. 

30 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

The  million  voices  of  this  mystery 

Murmur  around  thee, 
The  million  laws  of  nature's  realm 

Are  stirring  about  thee. 
The    silver   tides    from   all  the   universe 

o'erwhelm 
Thy  heart,  but  thou  hast  naught  of  fear 

or  strife, 
For  thy  soul  knows — it  is  that  love  may 
be, 
The  love  that  is  the  work  of  life 
And  its  mystery  in  thee. 

Take  then  this  peace  the  skies  have  sent, 
And  lay  it  to  thy  soul,  since  fear  has  gone, 
This  peace  that  floats,  like  some  strange 

dawn, 
Across  the  midnight  of  the  firmament. 

31 


XI 


How  swiftly  is  she  caught  in  ecstasy, 
With  her  clear  eyes  of  leaping  flame; 
She,  so  sweet  with  clarity, 
Meek  before  life's  sternest  claim. 
This  eve  how  sudden  fervour  rayed 
Her  eyes!     A  simple  word  did  entrance 

yield 
To  the  garden  where  she  stood  revealed 
Both  queen  and  serving  maid! 
So  meek  herself,  but  for  us  two  on  fire; 
To  her  must  kneel  whoever  doth  desire 
The  harvest  of  that  joy  that  rolls 
From  out  our  two  surcharged  souls. 

32 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

We  heard  exulting  love  within  us  seek 
The  quiet  refuge  of  our  hearts  once  more, 
And  the  living  silence  speak 
Words  we  dreamed  not  of  before! 


33 


XII 

At  that  time  when  in  loneliness  I  stood, 
And  desolation  deep  within  me  froze 
My  life,  you  shone  from  out  the  multi- 
tude— 
A  glowing  window  on  a  winter  eve 
Across  the  windy  surface  of  the  snows. 
Your  piteous  heart  brought  sweet  reprieve, 

Caressingly,  to  me  in  need, 
Like    breath    of    spring    from    off    some 
warmed  mead. 

And  faith  did  then  command 
That  frankness,  tenderness  and  troth 
Should  dwell  with  friendly  hand  in  hand 

34 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Within   the    wind-hushed    stillness    of    us 

both. 
Since  then,  though  summer  melts  the  win- 
ter cold 
Within,  and  under  skies  whose  leaping  fire 

Designs  with  gold 
All  the  winding  pathways  of  our  thought; 
Though  flaming  love  itself  is  brought 
To  far-flung  blossoms  of  desire, 
That  endlessly,  to  gain  in  might, 

Seek  endless  birth  anew; 
Always  I  look  to  that  dear  light 
Whose  sweetness   first  I  knew. 


35 


XIII 

Of  what  avail  the  hectic  reasoning 

Of  what  we  were  and  what  we  may  attain? 

All  doubt  is  dead  within  this  close  where 
spring 

Unfolds  within  us  far  from  life  and  pain. 

I  reason  not,  nor  do  I  seek  to  know, 

For  naught  can  trouble  that  within  whose 
scope 

Are  all  of  sweet  impulse  and  sudden  fer- 
vour's glow, 

And  tranquil  flight  to  sanctuaried  hope. 

Before  I  knew,  I  felt  thy  clarity; 
And  'tis  my  joy  above 

All  else  to  fill  my  heart  with  love 

36 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Nor  question  why  thy  voice  so   calls  to 

me. 
Come,  let  our  hearts  be  true— the  day  in- 


sure 


To  us  the  tenderness  without  the  strife, 

And  let  them  say  that  life 
Was  never  made  to  reach  a  love  so  pure. 


37 


XIV 

Quietly,  like  stately  queens  of  old 

Who,   step  by   languid  step,   descend  the 

stairs  of  gold 
In  fairy  tales,  thou  movest  in  my  dream; 
Names  I  give  thee,  such  as  must  beseem 
All  beauty  and  all  radiance;  names  that 

soothe, 
Resounding  silken-smooth, 
Sounds  that  wind  and  waver,  glide   and 

glance, 
Weaving  my  poems,  as  in  subtle  dance. 

Ah,  but  how  soon  I  leave  this  play 
When  I  behold  thy  wistful  way, 

38 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Thine  unadorned,  profoundly  wistful  way; 
Thy  forehead  unafraid  and  calmer  than 

the  day, 
Thy   peaceful   child-like   hands  laid   open 

on  thy  knees, 
Thy  breathing  bosom   and  the   dreamful 

ease 
That  on  thy  deep  and  limpid  spirit  lies. 
How  useless  and  how  little  in  the  sight 
Of  this  are  all  things — all  things,  save  the 

naked  light 
That  wells  up  from  thy  heart  and  gathers 

in  thine  eyes. 


39 


XV 

To  all  thy  smiles  and  tears 

My  sweetest  thoughts  I  give, 
Those  from  a  brimming  heart, 

And  those  that  live 
Too  deep  for  language  to  impart. 

To  all  thy  smiles  and  tears, 

And  to  thy  soul,  my  soul, 
With  all  its  smiles  and  tears, 

And  its  caress. 

See  thou,  how  dawn  has  blanched  all  the 

earth, 
The  shades  of  gloom  seem  put  to  flight, 

40 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

To  vanish  comfortless; 

The  lonely  lakes  have  caught  the  morn- 
ing's light, 

The  wet  flow'rs  glisten  and  are  filled  with 
mirth, 

And  the  golden  woods  have  swept  away 
the  night. 

Oh,  that  I  might  at  last 

Enter  upon  the  joyous  way, 

Oh,  that  I  might  at  last, 

With  a  victor's  joy  and  a  victor's  pride, 

And  thou  by  my  side — 

Oh,  that  I  might  at  last 

Enter  with  thee  into  love's  full  day! 


41 


XVI 

I  bathe  in  thy  two  eyes  my  soul  entire, 
As  tho'  in  purest  water  it  were  laid, 
And  in  their  sanctities  I  quench  its  fire 
That  tempered  and  more  keen  it  may  be 

made. 
Oh,  to  join  in  utter  purity, 
As  two  stain'd  windows,   smitten  by  the 

sun, 
Mingle  their  lights  in  separate  clarity 
And  melt  to  one ! 

I  am  sometimes  impatient  of  my  lot 
As  being  one  who  has  not  and  can  not 
Attain  the  perfectness  he  would  espouse; 

42 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

My  heart  beats  on  the  bars  that  are  its 

vows — 
My  heart  whose  evil  blossoms  push  their 

way 
Between  the  rocks  of  blind  brutality 
And  flaunt  shamefacedly 
Their  swarthy  flow'rs  in  sinister  array. 
My  heart  so   false — so  true — as   change 

the  years, 
My  heart  of  very  contradiction  made — 
Exaggerating    heart    where    merge    and 

shade 
Immensities  of  joy  and  startl'd  fears. 


43 


XVII 

That  love  within  our  eyes  may  be 

Uttered  with  all  clarity; 

Oh,  let  us  cleanse  our  looks  from  those 

That  chose 
The  way  of  life's  brutality. 

The  dawn  has  flowered  in  red  and  gold, 
Strange   softened  light 
And  mist; 
It  seems  as  though  some  tender  down  of 

gold 
And  silver  through  the  twilight  kissed, 
With  dim  caresses,  all  our  garden-ways; 
Our  mysterious  lake  displays 

44 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Its  trembling  sheen  of  golden  light; 
Beneath  the  trees  swoon  birds  in  emerald 

flight; 
And  dawn,  from  off  the  gloomy  plain,  the 

hillside  steep, 
Doth  sweep 
The  last  grey  ashes  of  unwilling  night. 


45 


XVIII 

Mid-summer  blooms  within  our  quiet  gar- 
den-ways ; 
A  golden  peacock  down  the  dusky  alley 
strays; 
Gay  flower  petals  strew 
— Pearl,  emerald  and  blue — 
The   curving  slopes  of   fragrant  summer 
grass; 
The  pools  are  clear  as  glass 
Between  the  white  cups  of  the  lily-flowers; 
The    currants    are    like    jewelled    fairy- 
bowers; 
A  dazzling  insect  worries  the  heart  of  a 
rose, 

46 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Where    a    delicate    fern    a    filmy   shadow 

throws, 
And  airy  as  bubbles  the  thousands  of  bees 
Over  the  young  grape-clusters  swarm  as 

they  please. 

The  air  is  peany,  iridescent,  pure; 

These   profound  and   radiant  noons   ma- 
ture, 

Unfolding  even  as  odorous  roses  of  clear 
light; 
Familiar  roads  to  distances  invite 

Like  slow  and  graceful  gestures,  one  by 
one 

Bound   for  the   pearly-hued  horizon   and 
the  sun. 

Surely  the   summer  clothes,   with  all  her 
arts, 

47 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

No  other  garden  with  such  grace  and 
power; 

And  'tis  the  poignant  joy  close-folded  in 
our  hearts 

That  cries  its  life  aloud  from  every  flam- 
ing flower. 


48 


XIX 

May  thy  dear  eyes,  thy  clear  eyes,  be 

To  me  on  earth 

The  pledges  of  felicity. 

And  may  our  kindled  souls,  in  showers, 

Clothe  with  gold  each  flaming  thought  of 
ours. 

That  my  two  hands  against  thy  heart 
ne'er  cease 

To  be  to  thee  on  earth 

The  emblem  of  all  peace. 

And  may  we  live  as  two  lost  prayers  im- 
plore, 

One  to  the  other  yearning  evermore. 

49 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

May  our  kisses  be,  on  lips  in  strife, 

To  us  on  earth 

The  symbols  of  our  life. 


50 


XX 

Tell  me,  oh  my  tranquil  friend, 
How  absence  of  a  day  untuned 
And  brought  our  song  of  love  to  end, 
And  wakened  every  sleeping  wound. 
I  go  to  meet  all  those  that  come 
From  out  that  land  of  mystery 
Where  thou  did'st  go  toward  the  red  sun- 
rise; 
Beneath  a  tree  I  sit,  and  cold  and  dumb, 
Down  the  long  road  spy  eagerly; 
And   long   I   look  with    fervour   on   the 

eyes 
Still  lustrous  with  the  sight  of  thee; 

51 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 


I'd  kiss  those  fingers,  for  thy  touch  less 
wearisome; 

I'd  utter  words  whose  meaning  none  per- 
ceive ; 

But,  dumb,  I  listen,  hear  their  footfalls 
reach 

The  shadows  where  the  aged  eve 

Holds  the  black  night  in  leash. 


XXI 

In  those  hours  when  we  seem  shut  out 
From  all  that  is  not  part  of  us, 
What  cleansing  flood  is  it,  so  nebulous, 
That  bathes   and  circles   our  two   hearts 

about? 
Joining  our  hands,  without  a  prayer, 
Arm  to  arm,  without  a  cry, 
Seeking  we  know  not  what  nor  where, 
Something  far  off,  more  pure  than  thou 

or  I — 
Thou  fervent  soul,  oh  say 
How   does    one   live    in   this  yearned-for 

day? 

53 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

In  those  high  hours  how  deep  doth  grow 

our  will 
In  front  of  life's  supremacies! 
What  need  of  other  heavens  still, 
Wherein  with  newer  gods  to  cope ! 
What  anguish  and  what  ecstasies, 
And  what  unflinching  hope 

To  be,  one  day, 
Through  death  itself,  the  prey 
Of  these  far  silent  agonies! 


54 


XXII 

Oh,  this  happiness, 
Sometimes  so  rare,  so  frail, 
It  brings  us  near  distress! 
In  vain  we  strive,   as  our  hearts   fail, 
To  make  for  us  a  screening  tent 
With  all  thy  wondrous  hair 
To  shelter  us  from  care — 
Yet   deep   within   does   anguish   still   fer- 
ment. 

But  love,  a  kneeling  angel  prays, 

Asking  alone  for  this, 
That  Fate  may  give  to  others  equal  days 

Of  tenderness  and  bliss. 

SS 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

And  on  those  stormy  days  when  evenings 
share 

With  highest  heaven  all  their  cruel  de- 
spair, 

We  seek  forgiveness  as  the  night  unrolls — 

Forgiveness  for  the  sweetness  in  our  souls. 


56 


XXIII 

Oh,  let  us  live  out  love  with  all  our  powers, 
Aspire  audaciously  in  thoughts  most  high, 
That  they  may  interweave  in  harmony 
In  the  supremest  ecstasy  of  ours. 
Because  within  our  twined  souls 
Something  more   pure   than   aught  in  us, 
More   sacred,   mightier,   unrolls — 
Join  we  our  hands,  and  let  us  seek  it  thus. 

What  matters  it  that  naught  but  tears, 

Our  halting  speech  avail 

For  that  whose  puissant  beauty,  as  it  nears, 

Doth  make  our  two  hearts  quail? 

Oh,  may  we  thus  forever  meet 

57 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Love's  stern,  ensweetened  pains, 
Kneeling,  by  fervour  overcome, 
Before  the  sudden  god  within  that  reigns, 
So   violent   and   so   burning   sweet, 
Our  very  souls  succumb. 


58 


XXIV 

No  sooner  lip  to  lip,  than  we  are  fraught 
With  sun-lit  fervour  that  o'erpowers, 
As  though  two  gods  within  us  sought 
A  god-like  union  in  these  souls  of  ours; 
Ah,  how  we  feel  divinity  is  near — 
Our  hearts  so  freshened  by  their  primal 
might 

Of  light, 
That  in  their  clarity  the  universe  shines 

clear. 
Ah,  joy  alone,  the  ferment  of  the  earth, 

Doth  bring  to  life  and  stir 

To  far,  illimitable  birth; 

As  there  above,  across  the  bars 

59 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Of  heaven,  where  voyage  veils  of  gossa- 
mer, 
Are  born  the  myriad-flowering  stars. 

How  for  us  is  design  of  life  profound! 
All  seems   as  pure   as  leaping  fire — 
Our  words  so  filled  with  fair  desire 
We  say  them  o'er  to  hear  them  ceaseless 

sound. 
We  are  the  ones,  victorious  and  sublime, 

Who  seek  eternity, 
With  humble  pride; — our  love  shall  ever 
be 

Free  from  the  bonds  of  time. 


60 


XXV 

That  nothing  may  elude  our  close  embrace, 
This  depth  of  holy  love, 

That  through  the  body  love  be  clear  with 
grace, 

I  seek  with  thee  the  garden  of  our  love. 
Thy  breast  is  there,  an  offering, 
Thy  hands  reach  out  to  me, 
Naive  and  tender  whispering 
Is  breathed  and  heard  by  thee. 
The  shadows  from  the  branches  now 
O'er  thy  throat  and  visage  pass, 
Thy  hair  has  spread  its  blossoms  low 
In  garlands,  on  the  grass. 

All  blue  and  silver  broods  the  night, 

61 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

A  silent,  sleeping  bed,  this  hour — 
Sweet  night!  whose  breezes  one  by  one  de- 
flower 
The   lilies   trembling   in   the   low   moon's 
light. 


62 


XXVI 

Although,  these  Autumn  eves, 

So   wistfully, 
Between  the  trees,  all  down  the  paths 
Fall  the  listless  yellow  leaves 
Between  the  trees  and  down  the  paths, 
Although  while  Autumn  grieves, 
The  night-wind  reaps  a  harvest  pale, 

So  wistfully, 
Where  the  late-blown  roses  fail 
Loosing  petals  wan  in  showers — 
Ah,  let  no  petal  from  our  love 
Fall  and  wither  with  the  flowers. 
But  let  us  both  lean  close  above 
The  smouldering  hearth  of  memory — 

63 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

But  let  us  tend  and  feed  the  glowing  coals 
And  reach  our  hands  and  warm  our  souls 
Against   the   winter-cold   and   misery, 
Against  the  hour  that  tolls  the  death  of 

all  desire, 
Against  our  very  selves,  our  stricken  pas- 
sion— 
Oh,  lean  with  me  above  the  blessed  fire 
That    Memory's   hands   have   kindled   in 
compassion. 
And  if  the  skies  be  drowned 
While  passionate  Autumn  roams  the  world 

and  rakes 
The  woods  and  the  wild  lakes, 
No  echo  of  the  madness  shall  be  found 
In  that  safe  garden,  inmost  and  supreme, 
Where  in  the  breathing  stillness  sound 
The  quiet  footfalls  of  our  Dream. 

64 


XXVII 

The  gift  of  body,  when  the  soul  is  given, 

Is  naught  but  harmony 

Of  two  tendernesses  driven 

One  to  the  other,  fervidly. 

Glory  in  thyself  thou  findest  sweet. 

So  fair  in  thy  fresh  purity, 

Only  to  offer  me 

The  wondrous  gift  complete. 

I  come  to  thee,  and  know 

Exaltation  in  this  gift  of  thine; 

Always  the  truer,  the  more  pure  I  grow 

Since  thy  dear  body  gave  itself  to  mine. 

Love !  oh,  may  it  overflow 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Our  hearts  and  be  the  reason  in  our  lives, 
Whose    maddest    happiness    is    one    that 

strives 
Toward  the  madness  of  a  trust  divine. 


66 


XXVIII 

Was  there  ever  in  us  one  caress, 
One  joyous  laugh,  or  tenderness 
We  dared  not  strew  before  us  on  our  way? 
Or  ever  prayer  in  silence  heard, 
Whose  dim,  unuttered  word 
We  sought  to  stay? 
A  single  yearning  of  compassion. 
A  quiet  vow  or  one  of  passion 
We  sought  to  slay? 
So,  loving  thus, 

Our  hearts,  like  two  apostles,  went 
Seeking  the  lowly  ones  with  timid  brow, 
Who,  feeling  then  so  bound  to  us, 
Proclaimed  on  high  love's  ravishment, 

67 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

As  a  flowery  people  loves  the  bough 
That  holds  them  bathed  in  the  sun's  warm 

ray; 
Our  souls,  grown  greater  still  by  this  re- 
birth, 
Began  to  glory  those  who  feel  love's  sway, 
Increasing  love  by  love's  own  might, 
To  cherish  thus  divinely  the  whole  earth 
That  seemed  reflected  in  our  own  souls' 
light. 


68 


XXIX 

This  fair  garden  flowering  to  flame, 
That  seems  the  wondrous  beauty  to  pro- 
claim 
Of  that  clear  garden  whereunto  we  cleave, 
Is  crystallised  in  frosted  gold  this  eve. 
A  great  white  silence  drops  athwart  the 

sky, 
Out  there  where  gleams  a  marble  hue, 
Whither,  one  by  one,  the  tall  trees  stride, 
Each  with  its  shadow,  long  and  blue 

And  lonely,  by  its  side. 
No  stir  of  wind;  but  soundlessly 
The  blanched  veils  of  cold  alone 
Unfold  themselves  mysteriously 

69 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

On  the  marshes'  silver  or  the  roads'  white 

stone. 
The  stars  are  lustrous  with  desire; 
Like  furbished  steel  the  rime 
Within  the  cold,  translucid  air. 
From  some  infinity  sublime, 
Across   the  paleness  of  a  waning  moon, 

Falls  shower  on  shower  of  fire — 

Star-dust  that  there 
Sinks  in  a  scintillating  swoon. 
It  is  the  hour  divine,  when  wistfully 
A  million  eyes  look  down  upon  the  earth — 
Upon  the  hazards  of  our  human  birth — 
From  out  immutable  eternity. 


70 


XXX 

If  it  ever  be 

That  thou  and  I  should  bring 
One  to  the  other  suffering 
Of  loss  and  sorrow;  or  if  fate  decree 
That  weariness  of  banal  joys  unstring 
The  golden  bow  within  us  of  desire; 
If  thought's  clear  crystal  vase  entire 
Must  in  our  spirits  fall  and  break  below; 
If,  spite  of  all,  I  lie  at  last  supine, 
Vanquish'd  for  not  having  been  enough 
The  prey  of  great,  divine, 
Utter  nobility — 

Oh!  let  us  be  like  maddened  fools  that 
climb  the  height 

71 


THE  SUNLIT  HOURS 

Beneath  the  ruin'd  sky;  and  let  us  closer, 
closer  cling, 
And  in  one  monstrous  flight, 

With  sun-drenched  souls,   cleave  the   on- 
rushing  night ! 


72 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 

'NSCHMTCHJM-' 


JL    MAR  1 2 1979 

MAR     ? 
WSCHWGE-URL 

JAN  1 1  m2 


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aPR    51983 


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PSD  2343    9/77 


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UC  SOUTHERN 


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